87R14444 TYPED
 
  By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 3712
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the training and hiring of peace officers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.2551 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.2551.  BASIC PEACE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE. The
  basic peace officer training course required as part of a peace
  officer training program under Section 1701.251(a) may be no less
  than 720 hours.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.269 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.269.  TRAINING PROGRAM AND POLICIES FOR FIELD
  TRAINING OFFICERS. The commission shall develop and maintain a
  model training curriculum and model policies for peace officers who
  conduct field training. 
         SECTION 3.  Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  Before the first day of each 24 month training unit
  during which peace officers are required to complete 40 hours of
  continuing education programs under Subsection (a), the commission
  shall specify the mandated topics to be covered in up to 16 of the
  required hours. 
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter J, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.459 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.459.  MODEL POLICY ON PREEMPLOYMENT
  INVESTIGATIONS. The commission shall develop and make available to
  all law enforcement agencies in this state a model policy for the
  preemployment investigation of a person licensed under this
  chapter. The model policy must incorporate:
               (1)  the duties and responsibilities of a law
  enforcement agency or governmental entity under Section 1701.303;
               (2)  the request, analysis, and use of any employment
  termination report or criminal background check information
  obtained under Section 1701.451; and
               (3)  any other information the commission considers
  necessary to conduct a preemployment investigation of a person.
         SECTION 5.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall modify the curriculum of the
  basic peace officer training course as necessary to comply with
  Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  The minimum hour requirement for the basic peace officer
  training course under Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a person who first begins the course on
  or after July 1, 2022.
         SECTION 6.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop and make available the
  model training curriculum and model policies required by Sections
  1701.269 and 1701.459, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  Section 1701.351(a-2), Occupations Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to a training unit that begins on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.